Report: Oregon focusing on former head coach if Mario Cristobal leaves

One of the craziest coaching carousels ever continues to turn, and it is far from over.

On the heels of rumors surrounding current Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal heading east to coach his alma mater, Miami, the Ducks might have their eyes on a familiar face.

John Canzano of The Oregonian believes should Cristobal leave Eugene, former Oregon head coach and current UCLA head coach Chip Kelly will get a phone call.

If Mario Cristobal leaves Oregon for Miami… I expect UCLA coach Chip Kelly to be a target for Ducks.

Maybe THE target.

— John Canzano (@johncanzanobft) December 5, 2021

Kelly was at Oregon from 2009-2012, made two Rose Bowls and won one of them, and took the Ducks to the 2010 BCS National Championship where they fell 22-19 to Auburn. His record at Oregon was 46-7, and he departed to be the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

In addition to the impressive record and bowl games, Kelly was known for a lights-out offense. From 2010-2012, Oregon averaged over 46 points per game. In 2012, they posted nearly 50 points per contest and 315.2 yards per game on the ground.

In 2018, Kelly returned to college football, taking over an ailing UCLA program. He had a rough first three years with the Bruins, but they were much improved this season. UCLA finished 8-4 and will head to a bowl for the first time under Kelly.

Report: Cristobal weighing his options

As of Saturday afternoon, Cristobal was out on the road recruiting, and Oregon wants to offer him a new contract, one which includes a raise. Additionally, Miami is very interested in hiring him away, and there is support for the move at the school. They would likely make him the highest paid coach in Miami history by a wide margin.

Per Canzano, it is believed Cristobal wants to stay in Eugene, but he will talk through it over the next 24-48 hours.

The report comes one day after Cristobal addressed the rumors following Oregon’s Pac-12 Championship loss to Utah on Friday night.

“I would say if there’s something to report, I will report it. I always have,” Cristobal said. “Over the years, because certain things are put out there or not. Every year our entire staff, whether behind the scenes, whether public or not, we’ve always had different people come for our people, including myself, and how the media treats it and how they choose to posture it, I have no control. As I just mentioned, that’s the extent of it.”

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.